Greg Clark heads Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy dept

Greg Clark has been appointed Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

That’s a new department created by new Prime Minister Theresa May as she decided to merge the departments of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).

Former Energy Secretary Amber Rudd has been appointed as the new Home Secretary.

The new department will have responsibility for:

developing and delivering a comprehensive industrial strategy and leading the government’s relationship with business

furthering the UK’s status at the leading edge of science, research and innovation

ensuring the country has secure energy supplies that are reliable, affordable and clean

dealing with climate change.

Mr Clark was first elected to Parliament in 2005 as the MP for Tunbridge Wells. He worked as shadow energy secretary from 2008 to 2010 and as Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Minister of State for Cabinet Office and Minister of State for Universities and Science during the coalition government.

The new Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Secretary worked as Communities Secretary at the Department for Communities and Local Government during the past year.

In a statement, Mr Clark said: “I am thrilled to have been appointed to lead this new department charged with delivering a comprehensive industrial strategy, leading government’s relationship with business, furthering our world-class science base, delivering affordable, clean energy and tackling climate change.”

The announcement has been welcomed by the energy sector.

Richard Black, Director of the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit said (ECIU) said Greg Clark is an “excellent appointment” as “he understands climate change and has written influential papers on the benefits of Britain developing a low carbon economy.”

He added: “Importantly, he sees that economic growth and tackling climate change are bedfellows not opponents and he now has the opportunity to align British industry, energy and climate policy in a way that’s never been done before.”

James Court, Head of Policy and External Affairs at the Renewable Energy Association added: “We are delighted Greg Clark has been appointed the new Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. He previously showed real vision as the Shadow Energy Secretary and we look forward to working with him once again in order to get things moving on the deployment of new renewable energy infrastructure.”